Word Origin & History

pander "arranger of sexual liaisons, one who supplies another with the means of gratifying lust," 1520s, "procurer, pimp," from M.E. Pandare (late 14c.), used by Chaucer ("Troylus and Cryseyde"), who borrowed it from Boccaccio (who had it in It. form Pandaro in "Filostrato") as name of the prince who procured the love of Cressida (his niece in Chaucer, his cousin in Boccaccio) for Troilus. The story and the name are of medieval invention. Spelling influenced by agent suffix -er. The verb meaning "to indulge, to minister to base passions" is first recorded c.1600.

Example Sentences for pandering

What a sorry state of servitude for a virtue—to be pandering to sensual pleasure!

He did not seek for gain by pandering to the thoughtless, ignorant or base.

Do not suppose that I am pandering to what is commonly understood by national pride.

How could he with a pandering smugness meet Fanny's purity of feeling?

He has never sought advancement by flattery or pandering to prejudice.

The cry arose that the survey was pandering to the national spirit.

She could not understand my brother's propensity or our shame in pandering to it.

This is in no sense the result of pandering to the patriotism of the American public.

They little knew what they were doing by pandering to my boyish vanity in such a way.